More mosquitoes test positive for virus

No illnesses yet reported in people; precautions urged

CORPUS CHRISTI - A third group of mosquitoes with the St. Louis encephalitis virus have been found within five miles of the first two locations.

Mosquitoes were collected on Aug. 10 from the 600 block of Southern Street and officials Monday were told that group tested positive for the virus.

On Aug. 3, infected mosquitoes were found in the 2900 block of Lawton Street and in the 4500 block of Castenon Street, marking the first time in at least 10 years that mosquitoes in Corpus Christi tested positive for the disease, said Dr. William Burgin Jr., Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District health authority.

A mosquito can fly as many as 15 miles during their several-week-long life span, but Burgin said the bigger danger is that the disease can be passed to birds from mosquitoes and back to other mosquitoes.

“Birds can fly much farther, potentially letting the disease spread across a large area,” Burgin said.

That’s why residents citywide should use mosquito repellent outdoors and avoid going out at night when mosquitoes are more active, he said.

“We have to continue being vigilant to avoid exposure,” Burgin said. “This should serve as a reminder that they’re still out there. It’s not time to let your guard down.”

Burgin said he was not surprised a third group of infected mosquitoes was found.

“Once we had the first report you could make the assumption that there were others in the area and we hadn’t trapped them yet,” Burgin said. “We may still come up with a few more.”

If the disease is transmitted to a human it can cause headaches, high fever and neck stiffness, officials said.